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True Crime Read In 2017: Post Reviews Here!
Fishface wrote: "Not at all, Bel!Alone: Orphaned on the Ocean, by Richard Logan and Tere Duperrault Fassbender
5 enthusiastic stars!
I gulped this down in a couple of hours. It's a fascinating, h..."
Fishface -- On your recommendation, I started this, and it is truly fascinating -- hard to put down when time for sleep!
Escape from Evil: Married at 17 to a Serial Killer, She's One Victim Who Escaped, by Cathy Wilson4 stars!
The true story of the author's struggles to survive, from a very early age, more challenges than you can shake a stick at. Just when she thought she was out of the woods, she moved in with a guy who would make all the other problems she'd ever had look pretty mild. Well written, and an impressive testament to the human ability to endure.
Fishface wrote: "The Sound Of Murder, Percy Hoskins4 stars!
This is Percy Hoskins' memoir of being a London crime-beat reporter for nearly 50 years, putting together his personal Hit Parade of cas..."
Just curious. Four stars and an exclamation point. What kept it from being 5 stars?
Fishface wrote: "Hey, you saved me the cost of finding out by ordering my own copy, so thanks!!"I got mine from the library so no worries.
Speed Demon by Goldie Guttenberg2 stars
I wont waste much time writing a review for this book. The basic premise sounded interesting and not your average TC book. A mother with mental issues drives erratically, has accident and two teenagers are killed. One is her own child. Is the mother guilty of murder? Sounds interesting but the problem is the book was not written to make the story interesting. It seems like it would have been a better magazine article than a book.
Filthy Rich by James Patterson5 stars
A rare jaunt into nonfiction for this well-known author. Could fall into the category of 'lifestyles of the rich and famous'. The main character thinks he can have whatever he wants, including young, underage girls. I wont give away what happened to him but it will make your jaw drop. Worth the read to read about some famous people connected with this guy, including one former president and one current one, and one English prince. I liked how the book was laid out and moved along quickly with short chapters, which works out good for busy people who like to get to the end of a chapter before they put the book down. A quick read, I read about 20 pages before I went to bed and finished it the next day
Finished A Checklist for Murder by Anthony Flacco 4 Stars
A great read! A super interesting case with a truly diabolical villian too! :) The writing was very good but I found he could get a bit wordy at times and a bit too poetic for my tastes. I gave his other book The Road Out of Hell: Sanford Clark and the True Story of the Wineville Murders 5 stars and this one 4 but it's a solid 4. I love how he spent some time at the end to write about what happened to key players after the trial. Hats off to the daughter and I hope things are going well for her.
I read 3 amazing true crime novels so far this year, "Without a Doubt" by Marcia Clarke (5 stars)"The Night Stalker" by Philip Carlo (3 stars)
"Helter Skelter" by Vincent Bugliosi (5 stars!!)
I did a full review on them here: https://youtu.be/tSsDYaqyN18
I was wondering about Marcia's book. Thanks for your input.
Shelley wrote: "I was wondering about Marcia's book. Thanks for your input."I have the Marcia Clark book. Glad to hear it is good.
Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde, Jeff Guinn5 stars!
I can't recommend this one highly enough. I can hardly imagine how much research must have gone into this blow-by-blow record of the Barrow Gang's crime spree. The author makes constant efforts to separate myth from fact, his entire goal being apparently to show us why Clyde, Bonnie, Buck and their retinue did what they did. This story is all about family ties and unbreakable bonds of loyalty. Not a "sob sister" treatment of their crimes, Guinn holds every wrongdoer responsible and makes no excuses for anyone, but also reminds us that nobody does anything without a reason. I came away feeling I almost knew these people.
Blood and Money by Thomas ThompsonThis is a book I read decades ago and I learned once again it reminded me just how powerful and complicated the story was. It reflect's on the blood and money, murder and passion. A gripping page-turner about what happened before this murder, during the murder and the aftermath of greed, violence and obsessive love.
A truly stunning portrait of the rich, famous and infamous.
5 + Stars
Murder on the High Seas: The True Story of the Joe Cool's Tragic Final Voyage by Carol Soret Cope 2 stars
Two guys book passage on a charter boat, murder the 4 people on board and try to make it look like a pirate abduction. That's about it.
This book is mostly about the trial. There is very little background information on the victims or the criminals. There isn't really even a lot of information about how the crime happened. It was a very boring read.
The Dating Game Killer: The True Story of a TV Dating Show, a Violent Sociopath, and a Series of Brutal Murders by Stella Sands4 stars!
This was a grisly read, not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach. The author spares no detail in telling us what the killer -- diagnosed over and over as a sexual sadist with a Narcissus complex the size of Alaska -- did to his unlucky victims, but she does spare us the deadly details of the never-ending legal proceedings this guy seems to generate, maybe continuing to this day. I like the way the story was broken down into small bites, because otherwise reading about this more-than-thirty-year-long story would have been very difficult to get through. I also like the way the author tells us so much about the known victims, making the tragedy of their loss far easier to grasp. I also like the way she leaves the door open for any new information that may arise -- because this guy may have done far more than kill a handful of women and girls. I look forward, grimly, to the sequel...
Pee Wee Gaskins America's No. 1 Serial Killer, Dr. John Chandler Griffin4 stars
Where Slaughter in Carolina just gives the basic outline of Pee Wee Gaskins' crimes, and Final Truth: The Autobiography of Mass Murderer/Serial Killer Donald "Pee Wee" Gaskins seeks to fill in the gaps about crimes Pee Wee claims to have committed and wants credit for (without proof), this one is the story of how Gaskins grew up to be so extraordinarily cruel. Again, this information comes primarily from a man on Death Row who wants you to know that he's the victim here, so a lot of it is suspect, but a lot of it is also very believable. I'm disturbed that the author apparently sees serial murder as some sort of competition, the way any career criminal in any prison yard would, and he writes as if he really respected Gaskins for what he's "achieved" over the years as a criminal. I am also astounded that this book was written by an English professor. At first only the punctuation was eccentric, but as the story continued I started to see wild misspellings like "juggler vein" and "terrorfied." I can't decide whether the author is trying to give us the flavor of Pee Wee's dialect or if he himself really writes this way. Surely a professor of English would know when to use quotation marks and [sic] to show that it's Pee Wee, not himself...but it never happened once.
The Girls of Murder City: Fame, Lust, and the Beautiful Killers who Inspired ChicagoI did not know the play/movie Chicago was based on a true story. I didnt think the writing was interesting but if you are interested in historical true crime you may find this a good one.
Finished Let's Kill Mom: Four Texas Teens and a Horrifying Murder Pact by Donna Fielder4 Stars
Good read and well written. There were times when the author repeated herself but nothing annoying or frequent. I really liked the interviews with two of the culprits in prison.
A Call for Justice by Denise Lang.This is a gripping true story of how a cop put his career on the line to keep a remorseless young killer behind bars. It is about a quiet New England town that lost their innocence after the horrifying discovery of a young mother and her two daughters. Another murder of a young girl was discovered a few months before this brutal crime by a young teenager. It would get national attention and even caught the ear of the President of the United State, Bill Clinton.
The family and this dedicated cop finally got the media attention and the only goal was to see justice done. A riveting read and a surprise ending.
5 Stars
I just finished Without Mercy by Gary Provost.A fascinating story about alcohol addiction and double murder. One usually thinks that murderer's hang out in bars or perhaps pool halls in the seedy part of town but not in this case. What is intriguing about the story takes place in such a ubiquitous and familiar IHOP pancake house and the very nice lady who works there. It all started because she kept a bottle of liquor in her station and would drink on the job. One thing led to another and because of her addiction to alcohol she did what she was told to do and not so long after that the situation spiraled out of control. This author did his homework and it was an easy but fast-paced read. Nearing the end of the story I found myself actually feeling sorry for the really nice lady.
4+ Stars
They Call Them Grifters: The True Story of Sante and Kenneth Kimes, Alice McQullien3.5 stars
This book is the story of the Kimes family. It starts before Sante Sighrs was born and takes the reader all the way through her life, up to the point at which she is the wealthy widow of a real-estate man, renamed Kimes and about to go on trial with her adult son for a fairly staggering array of really nervy crimes. This one will be as interesting to shrinks as it is to sleuths; these are very, very interesting characters. the author does a good job of sketching them for us, giving us fairly complete bios of some of the victims of these crimes as well -- another interesting array of people, from homeless drifters to multimillionaires. I can't help feeling sorry for the attorneys on this case -- and there were an incredible number of them over time, some of whom ended up dead. This is an outstanding read for our March challenge, "The family that slays together..."
Just finished Jeffrey Dahmer: A Terrifying True Story of Rape, Murder & Cannibalism
REVIEW --> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished Such Good Boys: The True Story of a Mother, Two Sons and a Horrifying Murder by Tina Dirmann4+ Stars
Very interesting case and well written. The "good boys" were sons of a severely mentally ill mother. While there is sympathy for them, the final solution to their unbearable life was unforgivable. There were options open to them especially for the older brother who was an adult at the time. I recommend this book.
Open Secrets by Carlton Stowers2 stars
I had a hard time getting into this book about a wife who was murdered, originally thought to be by her husband but turned out to be her lover's wife. An interesting case but not written in an interesting way. But don't let my opinion sway you. Most of the reviews for this book are 4 and 5 stars so read it and see what your opinion is.
Don't Tell A Soul by M. William PhelpsThis is a gripping story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. A compelling account of terror for all who happen to cross paths with this psychopath who had an obsessive need to control everything and everyone around her.
Her victims were her four children that she bullied, physically attacked and verbally abused almost everyday of their young lives. A chronic liar who ruled with an iron fist and everyone around her including neighbours and friends
Were left devastated and fearful. What I always look for with this author
Is his significant research that brings out the details and pulls the reader along.
He never disappoints.
Clearly a must read for all true crime addicts.
5 Stars
Denial: A Memoir of Terror, Jessica Stern5 stars
I would give this one more than 5 stars if I could. The basic shape of the book is exactly the same as Gone Boy: A Walkabout, but this author is looking into her own never-adjudicated rape. A researcher by training, the author investigates, not only the circumstances of the crime, but herself, trying to clarify if what she remembers is accurate, whether the effects she's feeling are real, and why the people around her responded (or failed to respond) as they did in the years after the assault. She only started this process 30 or more years after the rape, never having spoken to anyone about it. Oh, the things she finds out. By the end of the story an incredible number of family and internal secrets have been dragged out into the daylight, scrubbed and hung out to dry in the sunlight. Everyone who has been sexually assaulted, troubled by family secrets or other unanswered questions should read this book. It will tell you where to go from where you are now.
I started and finished Dixie's Last Stand by John FerakI have not heard of this woman who suffered from extreme domestic abuse by her husband thus far so I was quite shocked how this woman
Survived as long as she did. This author’s story was very well done with
Surprises and an astonishing end. My only disappointment is that it was not long enough. I recommend this book for all true crime readers.
4 Stars
The Ambition and the Power, John M. Barry3 stars
I opened this book wanting to know more about John Mack, the would-be killer of Pamela Small, and I did learn a little more about the guy in here. He went from being a 19-year-old knucklehead who did his best to kill someone because he was frustrated with his home life to being the top aide for the Speaker of the House during the Reagan and Bush era. But 99.999% of this book is about his boss, Jim Wright, whose career went splat after he overstepped his bounds as Speaker -- not once, but over and over. This book was a detour back through a period in political history that we remember as being divisive and embattled -- but boy, it looks like a walk in the park compared to here and now. This is nearly 900 pages of detailed scrutiny of policy decisions, controversy, finagling and secret decisions made in smoke-filled rooms. Interesting if this is the kind of thing that grabs you. Very well-written and moves right along.
The Devil's Daughter: The Epic Auto-biography of the Girl Who Was Told Her Father Is Ian Brady, Christine Hart3 stars
This is the fairly horrifying story of yet another casualty of the Moors Murders. The author's life -- finally getting onto a constructive track after a very hard childhood -- was torpedoed because of her unlikely attachment to Ian Brady, the most hated man in Britain. How miserable do you have to be before a serial child killer looks like an angel to you? (That's the word she used, so help me.) Read it and find out. This one is well worth your time.
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Quite possible this is in the wrong thread, ......
Feel the Laughter: The Inspirational Story of Sharon Komlos, Sharon Patyk Komlos4 stars
This is not your typical inspirational story, most of which are so oversweet you need to brush your teeth after reading them. This is the true story of one of the narrowest escapes ever from a guy who sounds like a serial killer, and it explains how her dreadful experience changed the author's life. She's refreshingly, totally realistic and straightforward about dealing with a great many unwanted changes. She's apparently been a great example to many people and became an advocate, not only for crime victims, but for the blind -- a club she unwillingly joined on May 23rd, 1980. Well written, straight from the shoulder, totally unflinching. Don't miss this one.
Young, Queer, and Dead: A Biography of San Francisco's Most Overlooked Serial Killer, The Doodler, by Reagan Martin2 stars
This was NOT a biography of the Doodler. It was a slapped-together summary of an unclear number of unsolved California serial killings from the 1970s, and it glanced off a couple of the solved ones. I read the whole book in under 45 minutes. The author was seriously over-focused on killings of "known transvestites" and "openly gay" men and totally ignored, for instance, the fact that Pat Kearney killed any male child he could get his hands on along with adult gays. Bill Bonin, a serial killer of young male runaways, was left entirely out of this story. We learn virtually nothing about the men who were killed, usually not even their names; the information on the known killers, like Randy Kraft, was sketchy at best; and I did not come away with any sense of why the various police departments involved did or did not connect the unsolved killings to each other. Very unsatisfying overall. Oh, the copyediting? This book was an exercise in apostrophes kidnapped from their proper places and recycled as supernumerary commas. Oh, and it's Folsom PRISON, not Folsom POISON.
Fishface -- LOL LOL -- your review was priceless -- love the "apostrophes kidnapped from their proper places...:" Not 100% sure what supernumerary commas are, but I'll look it up. Thanks for a good laugh.
Supernumerary, commas are, extra commas, that gum up the meaning of the sentence.
Terror In Ypsilanti by Gregory FournierThis is the first book I read from this author and I found it captivating.
This hunt for Michigan’s worst sexually sadistic serial killer was on and
And after months and months finally it took the killer off the streets. This author details the relentless investigation
by the law enforcers agencies and the complexity of the forensic expert
testimonies. Although this murderer was not widely known it catapulted
his name along with the likes of Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy.
An exciting and moving read that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
4+Stars
I started and finished reading Karla Faye Tucker Set Free By Linda Strom
Karla Fay Tucker, the first woman executed in Texas in over one hundred years
Became an Evangelist for Christ during her fourteen-year imprisonment on
Death Row. She committed a brutal murder which horrified the nation and
Captured the world’s attention.
I was hoping it would include how this double murder happened and what led
Up to it but the author did not want to include the horror of it all. Her reason for
Authoring this book was because she was Karla’s spiritual adviser and close friend.
If anyone wants to understand the power of forgiveness this book of encourage-
Ment has it all. Provocative and moving it is a must-read for those who feel hope
Is unreachable, for those who find forgiveness alien and for those who want to
Truly know what it is to celebrate life. The Karla that entered Death Row was not
The Karla that left Death Row on February 3, 1998. For just a moment, all dressed
In white as she waved ‘goodbye’ to those attending, mouthing the words “ I love
You and I’ll meet you at the Gate”, she looked like an Angel.
For this Spiritual Journey Home, I give it 5 Stars.
The Legend Of Sawney Bean, Ronald Holmes4 stars
The jacket copy on this book is all lies! Far from being the true story of the life and crimes of Sawney Bean, this is a scholarly attempt to clarify whether Sawney and his people-eatin' clan ever existed, and if so where, when and under what circumstances. This was an intriguing read, but I have to say it's far from convincing. After the meticulous, hairsplitting analysis I saw in The Discovery of King Arthur, this book came across as sketchy and incomplete. For instance, after devoting a whole chapter to the subject, Holmes never gives us a clear yes or no as to whether there is a real cave along the Galloway coast that matches the description of the one in the Bean story. I did find the history and anthropology in the story fascinating and Holmes makes me want to know much, much more. I came away feeling the truth was just around the next curve.
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This is a book I read decades ago and I learned once again it reminded me just how powerful and complicated the story was. It reflect's on the blood and money, m..."
Mod
This is a gripping true story of how a cop put his career on the line to keep a remorseless young killer behind bars. It is about a quiet New England town that l..."
Mod
A fascinating story about alcohol addiction and double murder. One usually thinks that murderer's hang out in bars or perhaps pool halls in the seedy..."
Mod
This is a gripping story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. A compelling account of terror for all who happen to cross paths with this psychopath who ha..."
Mod
I have not heard of this woman who suffered from extreme domestic abuse by her husband thus far so I was quite shocked how this woman
Surviv..."
Mod
This is the first book I read from this author and I found it captivating.
This hunt for Michigan’s worst sexually sadistic serial killer was on and
And aft..."
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Karla Fay Tucker, the first woman executed in Texas in over one hundred years
Became an Evangelist for Christ during her f..."
The Manson Women A "Family" PortraitClara Livesey
3 stars
A psychiatrist's take on the Manson Family dynamics and how those dovetailed with the individual families the various members came from. I was happy to learn more about the murders of James and Lauren Willett in here, and very surprised at how close this author got to the Family, even Charlie. I think a lot of the insights are pretty valid, although she's a bit too Freudian for my taste. My main problem with this book is the fact that she took well over 100 pages -- out of a 244-page book -- to get to the subject in the book's title. And there were so many other Family members she never even touched on. But the information in here, as far as it goes, is fascinating.
True Crime Story: I Survived A Monster, Opal Roux4 stars
I gulped this down in about an hour and a half. Betty Hanson's atrocious story explains exactly why so many women refuse to report rapes; they expect to be blamed. Betty was blamed even after this guy half killed her, even though there was a eyewitness to the whole thing (who also came close to losing her life). The whole story suggests that everyone, even the police, were on the killer's side. Betty should go down in history as a heroine among anticrime advocates, right up there with John Walsh. This is crudely written and poorly copyedited, with some frustrating holes in the information, but I would recommend it to anyone.
Tortured by Victoria Spry by Victoria Spry with Kate MooreThis is a story about Britain’s most sadistic mother. Out of four children, the daughter who got the worst of it is the author.
The foster mother of these children adopted them after caring for them when they were babies. Eunice Spry had two natural daughters by her first
Marriage who were working and at University. She brought them up with the best of everything
And sent them to private school. The abuse started from the time Victoria was a baby and these vicious attacks occurred daily both physically and verbally. When Victoria was five years
Old and she gained a sister and two brothers and Eunice adopted them later.
Soon it was apparent that Adam was her golden boy. She never laid a hand on him but kept him
In baby clothes and diapers until he was almost ten. She also barred friends and neighbours
From entering her home that was filthy. These children were never bathed or properly attended to. Charlotte was mother’s favourite and anything she asked for she got. These kids
Were subject to the most unspeakable abuse which continued for years to come. Tortured is
Exactly the word in describing what these helpless children lived with and survived. This is a riveting read and heartbreaking. I highly recommend it.
5+Stars
True Crime Story: I Survived A Monster, Opal Roux4 stars
I gulped down this infuriating story in about an hour and a half. Betty Hanson's atrocious story explains exactly why so many women refuse to report rapes; they expect to be blamed. Betty was blamed even after this guy half killed her, even though there was an eyewitness to the whole thing (who also came close to losing her life). The whole story suggests that everyone, even the police, were on the killer's side. Betty should go down in history as a heroine among anticrime advocates, right up there with John Walsh. This is crudely written and poorly copyedited, with some frustrating holes in the information, but I would recommend it to anyone.
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Obsessed with True Crime
Books mentioned in this topic
50 American Serial Killers You've Probably Never Heard Of: Volume 5 (other topics)The Giant Book of Murder : Real Life Cases Cracked by Forensic Science (other topics)
The New Murderers' Who's Who (other topics)
501 Most Notorious Crimes (other topics)
A Perfect Gentleman (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Blaine Lee Pardoe (other topics)Terry Ganey (other topics)
Martin L. Friedland (other topics)
Tina Dirmann (other topics)
Donna Fielder (other topics)
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Good point Fishface!